Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 17, 2018
First Reading: Ezekiel 17.22-24
22Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.23On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.24And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it."
Psalm 92
1It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;2to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,3to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.4For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.5How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!6The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:7that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever;8but you, O LORD, are on high forever.9For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.10But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil.11My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.12The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.13They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.14They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,15to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.6-10
6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,7for we walk by faith, not by sight.8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Gospel: Mark 4.26-34
26And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.27He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.28The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.29But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."30And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.34He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful metaphors and reflections on faith, growth, and the mystery of God’s kingdom. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a vivid image of God’s power to transform and restore. The Lord takes a small twig from a majestic cedar and plants it on a high mountain, where it grows into a mighty tree, providing shelter for all the birds of the air. This passage reminds us of God’s ability to humble the proud and exalt the lowly, as well as His promise to bring life and flourishing even in the most unlikely circumstances.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians shifts our focus to the spiritual journey of the believer. Paul describes the Christian life as a pilgrimage, where we walk by faith rather than sight. Though we may struggle in the body, we are called to trust in God’s plan and strive to please Him, knowing that one day we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This passage invites us to reflect on our own faith journey and the ways in which we are being shaped by God’s grace, even when the path is uncertain.
In the Gospel, Mark offers two parables about the kingdom of God. The first compares the kingdom to a seed that grows mysteriously, even when the sower is unaware of the process. The second likens it to a mustard seed, which, though small, grows into a tree large enough to shelter the birds of the air. These parables teach us to trust in the hidden and often imperceptible ways God works in the world and in our lives. Just as the seed requires time and care to grow, our faith and efforts, however small they may seem, can bear fruit in ways we cannot fully anticipate.
These readings remind us that God’s work in the world and in our lives is often gradual, mysterious, and transformative. Like the mustard seed, our faith may start small, but with patience and trust, it can grow into something extraordinary. As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, let us embrace the pilgrimage of faith, trusting that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it. May we, like the mustard seed, become a source of shelter and hope for others, reflecting the boundless love and mercy of God’s kingdom.